Absence of practical skills addressed.

: George McDonagh, validation test engineer and University teacher for Decontamination Sciences at the University of Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, and Professor Andrew J Smith, Professor of Clinical Bacteriology, honorary consultant microbiologist, and lead microbiology consultant for Decontamination, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, at the same establishment, describe the instrument decontamination teaching being provided to dental students on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery module at the Dental Hospital and School. The module's objective is to give the students sufficient knowledge and skills to allow them to manage a local decontamination unit (LDU) within their own dental practice.